Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Mar 17/03) - Sex offender Meeko Samwillie, 32, received a conditional one-year sentence in the Nunavut Court of Justice last Thursday.

The Sanikiluaq resident plead guilty to four counts of sexual assault, one count of sexual interference against a person under the age of 14, and breach of undertaking and probation.

Samwillie had exposed himself to a 30 year-old woman in that community and lured another underaged female to engage in sexual activities. The victims report still being afraid of him.

Judge Beverley Browne told Samwillie he needs to get some professional help.

"Sometimes things happen to us that are beyond our control and we need someone to show us the path. This is your circumstance, you can't do it alone," she explained.

Samwillie's lawyer, Greg Nearing, told the court he was a victim of assault himself as a child at the hands of five or six different people, one of them being infamous sex predator Ed Horne.

Nearing said Samwillie is "deeply ashamed" of what happened.

Samwillie has been in custody since June 2002. He was sentenced to a conditional one year sentence, during which he must keep the peace and be on good behaviour. He is also expected to remain in Iqaluit at the emergency shelter until a bed is made available for him at the mental health facility. He is ordered not to leave the establishments without permission.

Samwillie was also barred from consuming alcohol and is not to be in the presence of anyone under the age of 14 unless accompanied by a responsible adult.

The conditional sentence will be followed by two years probation.